Recipes

This vibrant red cake is the perfect confection to get friends and family in the holiday spirit.

Cake

½ cup shortening

1¼ cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

2¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 (1-ounce) bottles red food coloring

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 cup buttermilk (see Note)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

¾ cup milk

½ cup butter, room temperature

½ cup shortening

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour one 9x13-inch baking dish, two 8-inch round cake dishes, or place paper muffin cups in two 12-cup cupcake pans.

Cake

Sift flour and salt together. In a small bowl, combine food coloring and cocoa and whisk into a paste. Be careful—food coloring will stain. Combine shortening and sugar, cream with hand-mixer until well blended. Add eggs and food coloring-cocoa paste. Add buttermilk and flour in alternating batches. Add vanilla extract. In small bowl, mix vinegar and baking soda; when mix begins to foam, blend into cake batter.

Pour batter into 9x13-inch pan, or evenly into two 8-inch round cake dishes, or fill each paper muffin cup about halfway. Cooking times will vary. Cakes will bake approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Avoid over baking.

Let cake(s) or cupcakes cool completely before frosting.

Icing

In a small saucepan, thicken milk and flour over low heat, stirring constantly. (The milk and flour will get lumpy and burn if you do not watch it closely.) Set aside to cool slightly. Transfer thickened milk and flour to large mixing bowl and add sugar, butter, shortening, and vanilla extract. With a hand-mixer, blend at a high speed about 10 to 15 minutes. The icing will take time to come together; keep beating until it has formed into a thick, spreadable texture.

NOTE: To make your own buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of milk and let milk stand for five minutes before adding to cake batter.